I originally had an entirely different idea of what I was going to write about for today’s blog, but then as I logged onto the Internet to start blogging, an article on my homepage struck me. And for all you beer lovers out there, this blog could lead to a career change for you.

Four Points by Sheraton Hotels, a division of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, has just created a new position within the corporation - CBO. What does that stand for? Chief Beer Officer. That’s right - an executive of beer. Scott Kerkmans beat out 8,000 applicants to become the hotel chain’s first CBO. The position was created during a publicity stunt that began with an advertisement in The Wall Street Journal. And getting hired was not easy task - applicants had to pass a beer test, submit an essay and application, create a video and be voted the winner by the general public. So, I am sure you are wondering, as I was, the duties associated with the job: annual trips to beer conferences (including Oktoberfest in Germany), educating Sheraton bartenders on beers, hosting hotel happy hours and touring breweries. Another perk - he receives at least one free case of beer a month! So, maybe there is something to be said for those who claimed to have “majored” in beer during their college years.

While Sheraton is the first hotel chain to create this position, restaurants and bars across the country are hiring “beer sommeliers”. While these beer specialists seem to be popping up here and there, most places still use beverage managers.

While I would not consider myself a beer drinker, there is a lot to know about how beer is made, where it comes from, the flavors throughout the drink, just as there is with wines. It might be nice to learn about the beer you are drinking during your next trip to your favorite restaurant. And maybe this position will inspire restaurants, bars and hotels around the country to consult a “beer sommelier” and expand their beer selections.

-Kimberly Krol, circulation and public relations executive

This entry was posted on Friday, January 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am and is filed under Beer, Restaurants, Food and Drinks, Kim's Blog, Hotels. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.